I'm a .001 percenter, lost in a sea of cages...

[GTS_Rider]

Anyone else feel this way?

Yeah, I just don't 'get it'. I live in Los Angeles one of the grid-lock capitals of the world, but compared to cages on the freeways, motorcyclists are still a 'very rare' breed.

Eh, my commute times are a bit off main commute time hours, and I haven't actually counted, but I'm still pretty sure I blow-by 1000 cages or probably much more between every time I see another moto-rider. As far as I remember from my 3 years time up in the SF Bay Area, some ten years ago, there were way more hard-core moto-commuters up there rain or shine, than I see down here in LA in generally better weather.

Also wondering about mc commuters in other states, where you don't even get the bene of slicing through traffic, legally anyway...

Why do you do it?

"Honest, Officer, I'm just exercising my brain here". I'm thinking about printing this out to hand to the cop next time I get pulled over. Sadly, I'm very worried I'll be arrested just on the last bit they're actually able to remember. "Different state of consciousness" ...  

"Scientists believe that the extra concentration needed to successfully operate a motorcycle can contribute to higher general levels of brain function, and it’s that increase in activity that’s surely a contributing factor to the appeal of the motorcycles as transportation. It’s the way a ride on a bike turns the simplest journey into a challenge to the senses that sets the motorcyclist apart from the everyday commuter. While the typical car-owning motorist is just transporting him or her self from point A to point B, the motorcyclist is actually transported into an entirely different state of consciousness."





 

[SoCalFJR]

I'm now retired from the commute........but I regularly did a 80-100 mile round trip in SoCal for 20+ years and I have to agree there are very few bikes commuting around here.  My memory is a lot more bikes were out back in the 90's.  I normally would not see more than a couple bikes each way into LAX and back.  Maybe because communication is better and we have Sigalert to look at, I'm seeing a lot more MC's going down in traffic.  I can only surmise these are new young riders or old senile ones.  

Every day of commuting I took a moment and told myself I was going into no holds barred combat with the cages, and under the assumption that NONE of them would see me in traffic, and drove accordingly.  I'm still here typing this so it must have worked.......

[TBone]

I commute every day , barring ice and snow, on I-80 in NJ. It's like a test of my survival skills.  

No lane splitting, so I have to take advantage of size and power/weight ratios to get through jams and tight spots.

I don't need coffee, the adrenaline rush of getting to where I'm going in one piece is more than enough stimulation.

[Royal Tiger]

I commute every day , barring ice and snow, on I-80 in NJ. It's like a test of my survival skills.  

No lane splitting, so I have to take advantage of size and power/weight ratios to get through jams and tight spots.

I don't need coffee, the adrenaline rush of getting to where I'm going in one piece is more than enough stimulation.

Ahhh yes, I-80 is quite the experience.  Especially the closer you get to NYC.

[TBone]

Ahhh yes, I-80 is quite the experience.  Especially the closer you get to NYC.

I only go as far as Hackensack, so I guess it could be worse.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I commute every day , barring ice and snow, on I-80 in NJ. It's like a test of my survival skills.  

No lane splitting, so I have to take advantage of size and power/weight ratios to get through jams and tight spots.

I get the benefit of 280/80/287 - always fun times! Fortunately I'm always heading away from the sun. I feel sorry for the fools headed the other way - they can't see half the time!    As for splitting, I don't do it unless traffic is stopped or under 10mph. I won't sit in stop and go traffic; my training from California is too strong  

[X1Glider]

I only go as far as Hackensack, so I guess it could be worse.  

How could it be worse than simply living in Jersey?

[X1Glider]

8 miles and 10 minute commute each way for me.  Nothing but 70 mph chicanes.  No need for lane splitting, not that it's leagal anyway.

I'll second the "no coffee" bit.  My adrenaline rush is the 10 minute blast, watching the cagers text/apply makeup/read the paper and drive as I pass them.

[TBone]

How could it be worse than simply living in Jersey?

I've lived here my whole life, I just don't know any better.  

[Rincewind]

I commute every day , barring ice and snow, on I-80 in NJ. It's like a test of my survival skills.  

No lane splitting, so I have to take advantage of size and power/weight ratios to get through jams and tight spots.

I don't need coffee, the adrenaline rush of getting to where I'm going in one piece is more than enough stimulation.

It's a good thing you are armed with a Speed Triple!  

My commute is backroads through peaceful farmlands and suburbs - it's all rather idyllic until my 675 goes howling by.  Why do it?  Cause it's fun, addictive, and like you said - brain food.  

[sleazy rider]

Motorcycle miles - 25k average, truck - less than 6k in the dead of a Michigan winter.  Need I say more?

Sad to say, but this is apropos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubgJklZ6UAE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Mr Sunshine]

8 miles and 10 minute commute each way for me.  Nothing but 70 mph chicanes.  No need for lane splitting, not that it's leagal anyway.

I'll second the "no coffee" bit.  My adrenaline rush is the 10 minute blast, watching the cagers text/apply makeup/read the paper and drive as I pass them.

My commute is 5miles and takes 20mins.  

[gritsngravy]

L.A. is all about the car.  Traffic or not it's a hard sell to get folks out of their comfortable cars and on a bike.   Lot of decent cars out today that are  economical to run and can easily go 200,000+ miles with just basic maintenence.    

I was a certified bike nut back in the 80's, hated cars, rode everywhere.   Still love riding but I've definitely mellowed out on my "rage against the cage" thinking.   My commute to work is all surface street stop light SUV & 4x4 hell.  Stopped riding to work everyday years ago, just no great joy in it.   These days I 'm more into going somewhere on the weekends rather than gearing up for a short commute on the bike.   The roads in NorCal are incredible.  

Fact is  I'm actually looking forward to shopping for a new car soon.

[Yokel]

Oklahoma doesn't allow lane-splitting, and our traffic jams are simply a joke compared to the coasts so my commute/daily stuff is a breeze compared to LA.... but OH MY GOD we've got some oblivious drivers.  

I ride 365 now that my blown back is healed up... My little pickup saw so little use over the mild winter (350 miles I think?) that I decided just to sell it rather than watch it rot.

I however, do require coffee.

[CLAY]

I just love it- but my current commute, direct, is about 3.25 miles and 5 minutes.  On the bright side in Michigan in the last few years I think I have seen and increase in riders.

[Biking Sailor]

I'm a year round commuter (except snow and ice).  About 17 miles one way and takes 20 minutes, early morning and mostly highway.

Through the winter I saw one other bike regularly.  A guy going the opposite way on a bright orange HD glide, or similar, wears full ATGATT and waves to me every morning and evening.  He rides rain or shine, like I do.

[jfurf]

I'd say at least once a week this exact thought occurs to me. Especially since I ride the HOV lane on I-85 into midtown ATL every day, past at least four lanes of parking lot. I don't get it why more people don't commute by moto either.

People! You get to ride the HOV lane every day AND look cool doing it. And here in Atlanta the weather is about as good as it gets outside of California after California. I'd honestly say riding a moto saves me 6 hours of time per week. What is six hours of time NOT spent sitting in traffic every week worth to you?  

As for riding in non-legal lane filtering states. Don't tell anyone but some of us do it anyway.  

(Actually, I've ridden past local police a few times and none of em seemed to care. And drivers are so oblivious that they don't' realize you're even doing it til you're past em anyways, so no worries there. Just have to go a bit slower and I only filter when cars are stopped or moving VERY slowly. No gaps!)

[hpc800]

I commute everyday as others do (80mi RT)...I do not lane split, I'm fortunate that i have plenty of exits to take and does not take that much longer. But i will say taking the breakdown lane with my blinker on almost always gets some guy pissed off...last summer i had a guy block me 5 car lengths before my exit , so i when down in the grass to get by and he would just rev the engine at me . Up here the #1 window sticker is the orange HD logo...sorry but I do not drink the orange kool aid unless its Tang...